How do the health outcomes of a vegetarian diet compare to that of a diet which customarily includes animal products?

Introduction to the Review

This question considers research that directly compares health outcomes among individuals consuming a diet which customarily includes animal products to those consuming a vegetarian, including vegan, diet. The Committee recognized that additional research on this topic was published before 2000, but felt research published since 2000 represented the current plant-based dietary patterns and provided sufficient context to discuss the relationship between these dietary patterns and health. For an in-depth discussion of the relationship between various dietary patterns and health outcomes, see Part D. Section 2: The Total Diet: Combining Nutrients, Consuming Food in the DGAC Report.

Systematic Review Questions: (Click or hover over links below for more information.)

Limited evidence is available documenting that vegetarian diets protect against cancer. However, it suggests that vegetarian, including vegan diets, are associated with lower body mass index and blood pressure. Vegan diets may increase risk of osteoporotic fractures. The effect of vegetarian diets on cardiovascular disease, stroke and mortality are discussed further in Part B. Section 2: The Total Diet: Combining Nutrients, Consuming Food.